Mechanically isolated wireless communications system and method

ABSTRACT

A system and method for transmitting wireless energy between two or more components housed within a faraday-like cage structure. In one preferred form a cooling plenum of an equipment rack supporting a plurality of independent components is used for transmitting wireless signals between the components. In another form a wireless backplane is formed in an equipment rack that houses a plurality of LRUs. In another example a card file housing a plurality of components forms a faraday-like cage for enabling transmission of wireless signals, either electromagnetic wave or optical signals, between various circuit boards held within the card file. The various preferred embodiments eliminate the need for expensive, bulky and heavy electrical or optical cabling to be used to intercouple the components supported within the support structure for communication.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to wireless communications systems, and more particularly to a system and method for implementing wireless communications channels within an electronic equipment bay or other form of support structure.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Many electronic systems, and particularly commercial aircraft avionics systems, require a highly reliable system interface that can support a plurality of electronic components, such as line replaceable units (LRUs), in a common equipment rack or shelf within an electronics equipment bay. However, this involves complex integration and wiring assemblies that increase overall system complexity and weight. In applications involving mobile platforms, the additional wiring, typically in the forms of wiring harnesses, connectors, etc., necessary to integrate a number of LRUs for communication with one another, can add up to significant weight. However, with many mobile platforms, and especially military and commercial aircraft, minimizing the overall weight of the mobile platform is an important consideration.

Accordingly, it would be highly desirable to provide a system and method for interfacing a plurality of LRUs or other forms of independent electrical or optical components in a manner such that the components can communicate with one another without the need for physical wiring being used to intercouple the components, that is, in wireless fashion. It would also be highly desirable to provide a system of easily intercoupling LRUs that increases overall system redundancy to thus further enhance the reliability of the electronics. Increased redundancy is especially desirable in mobile platform applications, and especially with airborne mobile platforms.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to an apparatus and method for channeling wireless energy between a plurality of independent components to enable communication between the components. In one preferred embodiment an equipment bay is utilized for supporting a plurality of independent components adjacent one another. The plenum or backplane may form a cooling channel for also circulating a cooling air flow through the equipment bay. The equipment bay includes a plenum or a backplane area adjacent the components. The equipment bay, in one preferred form, may be formed from a material that impedes the transmission of electromagnetic wave energy, thus isolating the plenum or backplane area from electromagnetic wave energy present outside the equipment bay. The equipment bay also includes structure forming a plurality of openings that allow portions of each component to communicate with the plenum or backplane. Each component may include a wireless energy transmitter and/or receiver. Wireless energy is able to be transmitted through the plenum of backplane area between the components. This eliminates the need for wiring or wiring harnesses to be used to interconnect each of the components. In one preferred form the components may comprise line replaceable units (LRUs) or independent circuit boards. The wireless energy may comprise electromagnetic wave signals or optical signals.

In another preferred form a plurality of independent components are supported within a box-like enclosure. The enclosure may be made from a suitable material to prohibit the entry of electromagnetic waves and/or optical signals existing outside the enclosure from entering an interior area of the enclosure. Each of the components includes a wireless energy transmitter or receiver. The components are able to transmit wireless signals within the enclosure without being interconnected by physical wires or cables.

The present invention can be implemented at the printed circuit board level, the LRU level, at a tray and rack (system) level, and at an equipment bay level, to provide various wireless transmitting/receiving capabilities between electronic and/or optical systems.

The various preferred embodiments thus eliminate the need for heavy and often bulky electrical and/or optical cables to be used to electrically or optically couple independent component assemblies that are otherwise supported adjacent or in proximity with one another inside the structure. This in turn can significantly reduce the overall weight of an equipment bay or any form of subsystem in which two or more components need to communicate, and where physical wiring or optical cabling would otherwise be necessary for coupling the components for communication.

The features, functions, and advantages can be achieved independently in various embodiments of the present inventions or may be combined in yet other embodiments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a simplified perspective view of an equipment shelf of an equipment bay incorporating a cooling plenum that also operates as a channel or waveguide area for propagating wireless energy between a plurality of LRUs being supported on the equipment tray;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an LRU incorporating a patch antenna, in accordance with an alternative preferred implementation of the invention;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of an equipment rack incorporating a wireless energy backplane;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a card file for containing a plurality of the LRUs, wherein the interior area of the card file also is used to enable propagation of wireless energy between the LRUs; and

FIG. 5 is a simplified side cross sectional view of a fluid carrying conduit incorporating an electronically actuated component that is controlled by wireless energy transmitted from a wireless energy transmitter interfaced to the conduit.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The following description of the preferred embodiment(s) is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention, its application, or uses.

Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown an equipment shelf 10 in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The equipment shelf 10 includes a housing 12 forming a plurality of trays or slots 14 for accepting and supporting a corresponding plurality of line replaceable units (LRUs) 16. The housing 12 is preferably made from metal, and more preferably from aluminum, to act as an electromagnetic wave isolator to shield the LRUs from electromagnetic wave energy or optical energy present in the vicinity of the equipment tray 10.

The equipment tray 10 also includes a wall portion 18 having a plurality of openings 20. One or more RF mesh gaskets 22 may be included to form a seal around each opening 20 to further ensure that stray electromagnetic wave energy does not radiate into the housing 12 or out from the housing 12. The equipment tray 12 also includes a hollow cooling plenum 24 that forms an area or channel for circulating a cooling airflow in the vicinity of the LRUs 16 to cool the LRUs. In this instance, however, the cooling plenum 24 also forms a plenum for transmitting wireless energy 25 between the LRUs 16. The wireless energy may be in the form of electromagnetic wave signals or optical signals. If the wireless signals are optical signals, some form of optical coupling device, representative in highly simplified form by component 26, may be present on an LRU 16 to enable reception and/or transmission of optical signals to one or more of the other LRUs 16. If electromagnetic wave energy is being transmitted between the LRUs, then no such component protruding into the plenum 24 would be needed. A conventional airflow metering plate 28 may be disposed over each opening 20. Metering plates 28 may be formed from plastic and are used to regulate airflow that flows into each LRU 16.

The equipment shelf 10 thus eliminates the need for substantial wiring for interconnecting the LRUs 16. This represents a significant weight savings, as well as providing the benefit of increasing the redundancy of the overall system 10. By “redundancy”, it is meant that multiple LRUs are able to use the same multi-access wireless bus and that equipment shelf designs can be reused in multiple applications. Additionally, individual LRUs 16 can be even more quickly removed and replaced, as well as upgraded if necessary, since the need for physically coupling each LRU to the other LRUs via wiring is eliminated.

In an alternative preferred embodiment, the system 10 may incorporate a wireless data concentrator 30 disposed within the plenum 24. The wireless data concentrator (WDC) may be used to receive wireless signals propagating within the plenum 24 and to interface the signals to other equipment located remotely from the system 10. A suitable wireless data concentrator is available from Chipacon of Oslo, Norway.

If electromagnetic wave signals are being propagated within the plenum 24, such signals may be propagated over a wide frequency range. It is anticipated that in most instances, and particularly in commercial aircraft applications, wireless signals will be transmitted within a frequency range of between about 900 MHz-5 GHz. Various communication protocols may be used, for example the widely utilized 802.11 wireless protocol. In commercial aircraft applications the system 10 may form an ARINC 600 or ARINC 429 style equipment shelf. With brief reference to FIG. 2, each of the LRUs 16 may include a patch type antenna positioned so as to overlay the opening 20 to optimize reception if electromagnetic wave signals are employed within the plenum 24. Wireless signals radiated from each of the LRUs 16 may vary significantly in power, but are expected in most applications to be in the milliwatt range.

Referring now to FIG. 3, a system 100 in accordance with an alternative preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated. System 100 forms an equipment rack for supporting a plurality of LRUs 16 and for providing a wireless energy backplane. The system 100 includes a housing 102 having a hollow backplane area 104. In this example, a pair of rectangular openings 106 and 108 provide access to the backplane area 104. The housing 102 also includes a plurality of divider walls 110 and a back wall 112. The housing is preferably made from aluminum or any other suitable electromagnetic wave shielding material.

The back wall 112 includes a plurality of first openings 114 and a plurality of second openings 116. Openings 114 enable access by each of the LRUs 16 to wireless energy that is propagating within the backplane area 104. Openings 116 enable conductors such as wiring harnesses to be coupled to each LRU 16 when the LRU is being supported in the housing 102. An equipment shelf 118 may also be provided for supporting the LRUs 16, and the assembly of the shelf 118 and the LRUs 16 inserted into the housing 102 as a single subassembly. Again, each LRU 16 may include a wireless energy radiating/reception component, such as an antenna or an optical coupling device (not shown), that may protrude through each of the openings 114. It will also be appreciated that an internal divider could be used inside the backplane area 104 to divide this area into two distinct subareas within which wireless energy may propagate and thus form two independent wireless energy channels. Thus, a plurality of independent wireless energy propagation areas may be formed within the housing 102 depending in part upon the number of dividers incorporated within the backplane area 104, and the number and configuration of the openings 114. An optional wireless data concentrator 119 may also be included within the pack plane area 104.

The housing 102 thus forms essentially a faraday cage for containing wireless energy within the backplane area 104. A suitable mesh gasket, possibly a RF mesh gasket 120, may optionally be employed around each of the openings 106 and 108 to prevent stray electromagnetic wave energy from entering into the backplane area 104, as well as for preventing electromagnetic wave energy propagating within the backplane area 104 from radiating out to an ambient environment, and possibly interfering with other adjacently located electronic equipment. If the equipment shelf 118 is included for use, such a shelf would also typically include openings 122 and 124. Openings 122 enable wireless energy to propagate through the shelf 118 and to communicate with its associated LRU 16. Each opening 124 allows an external cable for supplying power and/or data signals to be coupled to each LRU 16.

The system 100 thus also enables wireless communications between each of the LRUs 16 without the need for physical cabling to be employed to interconnect each of the LRUs 16. This also simplifies assembly and removal of the LRUs 16 from the equipment shelf, as well as allowing easier upgrades of LRUs in the event modifications are required.

Referring to FIG. 4, a system 200 in accordance with another alternative preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown. System 200 essentially comprises a card file able to hold a plurality of electronic circuit boards within a sealed enclosure so that wireless energy may be freely transmitted between each of the circuit boards. The system 200 includes a box-like card file housing 202 within which each of a plurality of circuit boards 204 are housed. A cover 206 is typically secured over the housing 202 to enclose the circuit boards 204 therein. The housing 202 and cover 206 may be made from any suitable materials, for example aluminum, that impede the ingress and egress of electromagnetic wave signals to/from an interior area 208 of the housing 202.

In the example of FIG. 4, each circuit board 204 may include an RF antenna or optical coupler 210 to facilitate radiating/receiving electromagnetic wave or optical energy to and from the circuit board 204. Thus, various preferred embodiments of the present invention can be implemented at the internal circuit card (printed wiring board) level, the LRU (box) level, or the tray and rack (system) level, as well at the overall equipment bay level. Essentially, the various preferred embodiments described herein could be implemented in any application where wireless energy needs to be transmitted between two components, and wherein a faraday-like cage can be formed around the two components.

The various preferred embodiments described herein are readily retrofittable into a variety of existing equipment bays, equipment shelves, and card file components used on various forms of mobile platforms, and particularly on commercial and military aircraft. However, it will be appreciated that such equipment is commonly implemented on a variety of mobile platforms such as aircraft, ships, land vehicles and rotor craft.

Referring to FIG. 5, another alternative preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown. The embodiment of FIG. 4 illustrates a system 300 for transmitting electromagnetic wave signals within a fluid carrying conductor to control a flow controlling element 302. With this embodiment, this is accomplished by interfacing an electromagnetic wave energy radiating device 304, such as an antenna element, such that a portion of the antenna element 304 protrudes through an opening 306 in a conduit 308 within which the fluid is flowing. Radiating element 306 is used to radiate electromagnetic wave energy 310 to the flow control element 302. The flow control element 302 may comprise a valve, actuator or other form of device for controlling, interrupting or diverting all or a portion of the fluid 310 flowing through the conduit 308, or for controlling some other element such as a flight control aileron on an aircraft. The conduit 308 is preferably a metallic conduit and essentially functions as an electromagnetic waveguide to retain the electromagnetic wave energy propagating therein within the conduit 308. The conduit 308 also functions to prevent stray electromagnetic wave energy from entering the interior area of the conduit. Thus, various forms of flow control devices can be controlled remotely from an antenna element 304 that is interfaced to the conduit 308. It will be appreciated that this embodiment is particularly useful in applications where the routing of external conductors, such as electrical cabling, to the flow control element 302, is difficult and/or impractical because of space, temperature or other constraints. Since the conduit 308 acts as a waveguide, the antenna element 306 does not need to be in the line of sight of the flow control valve 302 to control the valve 302.

The various preferred embodiments thus allow wireless signals to be used within a faraday-cage like structure to enable wireless communication between two or more electronic components. This significantly reduces the weight and complexity of various forms of equipment bays, equipment racks and card files that are often used in various forms of mobile platforms. The present invention is readily retrofittable into a wide range of existing equipment bays, equipment shelves, card files, equipment racks, etc. with little or no modifications being required to existing structures. Advantageously, in some embodiments, areas of existing equipment bay structure typically used as cooling airflow channels are also used as electromagnetic wave energy channels, thus requiring little or no modification to the existing structure.

While various preferred embodiments have been described, those skilled in the art will recognize modifications or variations which might be made without departing from the inventive concept. The examples illustrate the invention and are not intended to limit it. Therefore, the description and claims should be interpreted liberally with only such limitation as is necessary in view of the pertinent prior art. 

1. A method for wirelessly communicating signals between at least a pair of independent components, comprising: providing a supporting structure for receiving and supporting said pair of independent components; and forming a channel in said structure that is isolated from wireless energy from an ambient environment in which said supporting structure is located, and for retaining wireless energy flowing inside said channel within said channel; disposing each of said independent components so that at least a portion thereof is located adjacent and in communication with said channel; substantially sealing an area of interface of each of said components with said channel to insure that wireless energy is only transmitted between said channel and each of said independent components; and using said channel to conduct wireless energy through said channel between said independent components.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein using said channel to conduct wireless energy comprises using said channel to conduct electromagnetic wave energy.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein said channel to conduct wireless energy comprises using said channel to conduct optical energy.
 4. The method of 1, wherein forming said channel comprises forming an elongated, rectangular channel that functions as a wireless energy backplane for said independent components.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein substantially sealing said area of interface comprises using a gasket between each of said components and said channel.
 6. The method of claim 5, further comprising using an independent tray to support each of said independent components adjacent said channel, and forming an opening in a portion of said tray for enabling said wireless energy to be communicated between said components and said channel.
 7. The method of claim 5, further comprising integrating a wireless energy concentrator into said channel for communicating said wireless energy between a device located outside of said channel and said area within said channel.
 8. An apparatus for conducting wireless energy between a plurality of independent components housed within said apparatus, said apparatus comprising: an enclosure for preventing the ingress and egress of wireless energy to and from said enclosure; said enclosure receiving and supporting therewithin a plurality of said independent components, wherein each of said independent components includes a wireless energy communication subsystem; and a cover for enclosing said independent components within said enclosure and preventing the ingress and egress of wireless signals into and out of an interior area formed by said enclosure and said cover; and wherein said independent components communicate wirelessly within said enclosure.
 9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said enclosure comprises a metallic structure.
 10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said enclosure comprises an interior wall portion having a plurality of slots for receiving said independent components and holding said independent components adjacent one another.
 11. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said independent components comprises electronic circuit board assemblies.
 12. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said independent components each include at least one of: an electromagnetic wave antenna; and an optical coupling component.
 13. An equipment bay apparatus for enabling wireless signals to be transmitted between independent components being supported by said equipment bay, said apparatus comprising: a housing for receiving and supporting at least a pair of independent components; and said housing including a backplane area for enabling wireless energy to propagate therein, and a component supporting area adjacent said backplane area; said housing further operating to isolate said backplane area from wireless energy propagating outside of said backplane area, and for retaining wireless energy propagating within said backplane area inside said backplane area; disposing each of said independent components so that at least a portion thereof is located within said component supporting area and adjacent, and in communication with, said backplane area; substantially sealing an area of interface of each of said components with said backplane area to insure that wireless energy is only transmitted between said backplane area and each of said independent components; and using said backplane area to conduct wireless energy between said independent components.
 14. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising a shelf for supporting said independent components adjacent one another within said component supporting area, said shelf including a plurality of openings for enabling wireless energy to be communicated between said backplane area and each of said independent components.
 15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said shelf comprises a plurality of openings for enabling physical coupling between a connector on each of said independent components and a power connector associated with said housing.
 16. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising a gasket for sealing an area of interface between said backplane area and said component supporting area.
 17. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said independent components comprise electronic line replaceable units.
 18. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising a wireless data concentrator disposed within said backplane area for enabling wireless communication between said independent components and a device located remotely from said apparatus.
 19. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said housing comprises an aluminum housing.
 20. A method for conducting wireless signals to control an electronic device disposed within a fluid carrying conduit, the method comprising: using an electromagnetic wave energy transmitter interfaced to a fluid carrying conduit to radiate electromagnetic wave energy signals within an interior area of said fluid carrying conduit; using an electronically actuated component to control a fluid flow within said conduit; and using said electromagnetic wave energy transmitter to radiate electromagnetic wave energy signals to said electronically actuated component to thus control said electronically actuated component. 